Doctor says infant was severely abused

March 22, 2000|By MARLO BARNHART

In his first seven weeks of life, Thomas Caleb Smith suffered 17 fractured ribs, broken legs and pelvic bones, nearly a dozen bruises, retinal hemorrhaging in his eyes and brain damage - the result of severe, repeated child abuse, according to court testimony.

A Washington County Circuit jury heard that testimony Tuesday from a University of Maryland pediatric specialist during the first day of the trial of Charles Herbert Smith, the father of the infant.

Smith, 38, formerly of 2 Broadway, is charged with first- and second-degree assault, child abuse and reckless endangerment of his son last June 5.

The child survived the injuries.

"I can say with 100 percent certainty that this child was the victim of severe, repeated child abuse," said Dr. Robert Englander.

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Englander, who first saw the infant June 7, said rib fractures like Thomas' are caused when a baby is squeezed very hard.